Island Grove Regional Park
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Schedule of Events & Shows
Saturday, July 20
9 a.m. Dog Show – Exhibition Building Draft Horse Show – Saddle Club
6 p.m. Mounted Shooters Show – Arena
Monday, July 22
10 a.m. 4-H Horse Show, Green Horse – Arena
12 noon 4-H Horse Show, Lead Line — Arena
Tuesday, July 23
7 a.m. 4-H Horse Show, Ranch Horse – Arena
3 p.m. 4-H Horse Show, Timed Events – Arena
Wednesday, July 24
8 a.m. 4-H Horse Show, Western Showmanship,
Halter Classes, English – Arena
8 a.m. Open Class Better Living Exhibits Open –Event Center, West Meeting Rooms
8 a.m. Flower/Horticulture Exhibits Open –Bunk House
8 a.m. 4-H Project Exhibits Open – 4-H Building
10 a.m. Market & Breeding Goat Show –Event Center
12 noon 4-H Horse Show – Arena
Thursday, July 25
7 a.m. Free Pancake Breakfast sponsored by Weld County Farm Bureau –Exhibition Building
8 a.m. Vegetables & Field Crops and Creative Weeds Exhibits Open – Event Center South Lobby
9 a.m. Dairy Cattle Show – Park, North Oval
9 a.m. Breeding & Market Sheep Show –Event Center
2 p.m. Market, Breeding Rabbit Show –Event Center
4 p.m. Goat Carcass Contest – Event Center
4:30 p.m. Blow-N-Go Beef Showmanship –Park, North Oval
Friday, July 26
9 a.m. Market Beef Show – Park, North Oval
9 a.m. Poultry Showmanship – Event Center
10 a.m. Celebrating Seniors Bingo & Lunch Sponsored by Occidental –Poudre River Pavilion
1 p.m. Breeding Beef Show – Park, North Oval
4 p.m. Weld County Swine Breeders Association Show – Exhibition North Tent
4 p.m. Sheep Carcass Contest Ultrasound –Event Center
7 p.m. WRPA Barrel Race presented by Lucky You Barrel Races – Arena
Saturday, July 27
8 a.m. Swine Showmanship then Breeding & Market Swine Show – Exhibition North Tent
9 a.m. Poultry Show – Event Center
6 p.m. Team Roping presented by 5Flat Productions – Arena
Sunday, July 28
8 a.m. Cowboy Church – Poudre River Pavilion
8 a.m. WRPA Breakaway Roping – Arena
8 a.m. Vette Fest Car Show – Park Southeast Oval
9 a.m. All Around Large Animal Showmanship –Park North Oval
10 a.m. Bucket Calf Show – Park North Oval
10 a.m. All Around Small Animal Showmanship –Event Center
11 a.m. Weld County Fair Free Community Barbeque – Poudre River Pavilion
3:30 p.m. WRCA Weld County Fair Ranch Rodeo –Arena
Monday, July 29
3 p.m. Junior Livestock Sale – Event Center
Vendors open daily 9 a.m.-6 p.m. beginning July 24 through July 28/Food Trucks + Vendors at all Arena Special Events
All Weld County Events are held at Greeley’s Island Grove Regional Park, 501 N. 14th Avenue
106th Weld County Fair to bring livestock shows, exhibits, competitions and more to Island Grove Regional Park
By Trevor Reid
Hard work and determination fuel Weld County’s deep agricultural roots, which continue to drive business and build community today.
In addition to hosting several agricultural businesses, the county hosts a number of events to celebrate its ag roots. One of its oldest celebrations gets underway this month.
The 106th Weld County Fair runs from Saturday, July 20 to Monday, July 29 at Island Grove Regional Park in Greeley. The free event includes a variety of displays, activities and contests in which children and adults can showcase their skills in agriculture, livestock, engineering, fine arts, family living and more.
Weld County Fair Coordinator Mikayla Gabel highlighted a few
of the popular events that are set to take place in the Grandstand Arena over the 10-day fair.
The Women’s Professional Rodeo Association Weld County Fair Barrel Race by Lucky You Barrel Races will start at 7 p.m. Friday, July 26. Practice rides with barrels and practice runs will be available from 3-6:15 p.m. Reservations and pre-entries will be accepted through July 24 via text
Sights from the 104th Weld County Fair and Ranch Rodeo at Island Grove Regional Park in Greeley. (Tamara Markard/Greeley Tribune file photo)
to (307) 631-5012. After July 24, entries can only be made on-site.
Team Roping by 5Flat Productions is set to begin at 6 p.m. Saturday, July 27. Entries start at 5 p.m. For more information, contact Gary at 970-846-7825.
Breakaway Roping will begin at 8:30 a.m. Sunday, July 28. Entries start at 8 a.m. and cost $100.
The Working Ranch Cowboys Association Ranch Rodeo will run from 3:30-8 p.m. Sunday, July 28.
Beyond the arena, events are scheduled across various buildings and throughout Island Grove Regional Park. Livestock buildings will open to the public at 8 a.m. starting Saturday, July 20 and close by 9 p.m. The fair’s opening day is also set to include a dog show starting at 9 a.m. Saturday, July 20 in the Exhibition Building, the Northern Colorado Draft Horse Association Show from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Saddle Club Arena and the Colorado Regulators-Mounted Shooters
Show from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Grandstand Arena.
Multiple 4-H horse shows will take place from July 22-24 at the arena, and the Event Center will host market and breeding shows for goats at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 24 and for sheep at 9 a.m. Thursday, July 25. The North Oval will host a dairy cattle show at 9 a.m. Thursday, July 25, followed by a dairy heifer sale at 1 p.m. and Blow-n-go Beef Showmanship at 4:30 p.m. A market beef show will begin at 9 a.m. Friday, July 26 in the North Oval, followed by a breeding beef show about 1 p.m. As highly pathogenic avian influenza continues to affect cattle,
fair officials are implementing a biosecurity plan and ask that exhibitors monitor for symptoms, isolate any sick animals and to test before traveling. The fair is following the latest guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The fair will also host more than 60 vendors this year, as well as a free pancake breakfast from
Photo: Shutterstock
the Weld County Farm Bureau on Thursday, July 25, Cowboy Church on Sunday, July 28 and a free community barbecue with an awards ceremony from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, July 28.
Capping off the fair is the Junior Livestock Sale at 3 p.m. Monday, July 29 in the Event Center. The sale regularly breaks records, raising a total of more than $1.78 million in 2023.
Gabel, who became the fair coordinator in December, grew up in Weld County and started attending the fair to exhibit when she was just 6 years old. She’s participated in just about every aspect of the fair, from ceramics to shooting sports and showing goats and lambs. Cattle, which she showed for the longest, was her favorite event.
“I grew up showing in 4-H and FFA myself, so it’s really cool to be able to give back to the fair that means so much to me and shaped me into who I am and instilled all of the values of hard work and leadership to be able to pursue this role,” she said.
Planning the fair is a yearround job, Gabel said. Her team includes seasonal staff that help through the month of July, as well as two part-time workers who go full time during the fair. The fair also depends on volunteers, including the Fair Board, Fair Committee members.
“The fair is rich in the celebration of agricultural heritage
where we can showcase the achievements of local farmers and ranchers and 4-H and FFA members, and provide a platform for the community to come together and enjoy a celebration,” she said. “It’s a friendly place for competition, education and community building.”
For more information, including a full schedule of events, go to weldcountyfair.com.
A young man gets his sheep set for the customary photo before heading to the auction ring during the 105th Weld County Fair Jr. Livestock Sale on July 31, 2023.
(Tamara Markard/Greeley Tribune file photo)
Photo: Shutterstock
SHINING STAR: KASSANDRA SHOEMAKER
By Mikayla Gabel
In the heart of Weld County, where the spirit of agriculture runs deep, we have the honor to highlight one of our very own, Kassandra Shoemaker. A member of the High Plains 4-H Club, Kassandra's journey into the world of 4-H and the Weld County Fair began with a love for animals and a passion for competition. Showing breeding and market beef, market swine and horses became not just a hobby, but a way of life for her. From the sprawling fields of her family’s ranch to the grand arenas of the county and state fairs, Kassandra honed her skills and forged unforgettable memories.
Reflecting on her
earliest days at the fair, Kassandra fondly recalls Ranch Horse Day at the horse show, where she first felt the thrill of competition. Water fights at the wash rack and drinking WAY too many lemonades with friends between shows are memories that still bring a smile to her face.
For Kassandra, 4-H is more than a club—it's a beacon of opportunity, growth and has added value to the way she prevails. She shares, “Having livestock as a young girl taught me the value of a commitment to excellence in every aspect of life. I also competed in Livestock Judging and Horse Bowl which helped my public speaking and
Photo: Courtesy/Weld County Fair
critical thinking skills develop rapidly. In all of my projects, I learned the value of setting goals, to give my actions focus, direction and to hold myself accountable to achieving those goals.
All of these skills have helped set me apart from my contemporaries whether it is in the classroom as a future student of veterinary medicine or in the arena competing in the breakaway, team roping and single steer roping.”
As Kassandra looks towards the future, she carries with her the lessons learned and the memories cherished from her time at the Weld County Fair. Kassandra expresses, “I would like to send a special “Thank You” to Theresa and Wayne Johnson for their hard work on the horse program and making the Weld County Fair Horse Show one of the most competitive, rewarding horse shows I
have had the honor to compete in. My horsemanship and horse knowledge learned through the Weld County 4-H program has helped me accomplish goals I would have never dreamed of.” With a spirit as strong as the
open plains, she continues to shine bright as a testament to the enduring legacy of agriculture and community in Weld County. We are so proud of you, Kassandra!
Photo Courtesy Western Ag Reporter
2024 WELD COUNTY FAIR ROYALTY
Caitie Holcomb, Fair Queen
Hey y’all! My name is Caitie Holcomb and I am your 2023-2024 Weld County Fair Queen. Some of y’all may know me from my two previous years serving as a Weld County Fair Attendant!
I’m ecstatic to have this opportunity a third time around! Being able to represent the Weld County Fair all around the state has been a dream come true! Currently, I am a Senior at Valley High School and I am actively involved in many extracurricular activities, like FFA, 4-H and, of course, Royalty. I am currently serving as the 2023-2024 President for Valley FFA and I am the Parliamentarian for our 4-H Club this year. I would not be able to accomplish so much without my family. My mother Bridget Holcomb, my father Cory Holcomb and my sister Kiana Holcomb
are always lending a helping hand! After high school, I hope to serve as a Colorado State Officer for FFA and attend Oklahoma State University to become an Ag Teacher! 4-H has been a HUGE part of my life, I have been in it since I was six, participating in projects from sewing to showing livestock. The Weld County Fair is where I have had the most opportunities for growth and sharing my passions.
Jadalynn Frazier, Fair Princess
Hey there! My name is Jadalynn Frazier, your 2023-2024 Weld County Fair Princess. Being a part of the royalty court this year is an honor. I have made so many memories and had an amazing time traveling all over Colorado with the rest of the court. I have gotten the opportunity to go to so many events as Fair Princess, such
as many parades of lights throughout the county, Miss Rodeo Colorado Clinic, and my favorite event so far, the National Western Stock Show. I am 15 and have been homeschooled my whole life. I am the 2024 Tail Twisters 4-H club President. This year I am a part of the Fort Lupton CWF group as well as the Weld County Horse Bowl and Weld County Horse Judging team. I have been showing horses at the fair for several years, which has sparked my passion for agriculture and the equine industry. 4-H has opened up so many opportunities for me such as attending the Arabian National Horse Judging contest as well as exhibiting my horse at NWSS, where I was able to win the Grand Champion for the AQHA Youth and First for Youth Horsemen Challenge. I will start my beef project at the fair this year and show a Charolais Angus cross steer. I couldn’t have done all this without my parents, Lee and Shannon Frazier. They are always there for whatever I may need whether it’s driving hours
away to different events or critiquing my showmanship.
Madison Miller, Fair Attendant
Hi! My name is Madison Miller, and I am your 2023-2024 Weld County Fair Attendant. I am a member of the Tail twisters 4-H Club in Ft. Lupton, where I head or participate in several club committees. Being a part of 4-H allows me to volunteer for many different community service projects that include making blankets for the Ft. Lupton Food and Clothing Bank and Hope at Miracle House, a peanut butter drive for the Ft. Lupton Food and Clothing Bank, working at the Weld Food Bank and providing baked goods/cookie trays to our local firefighters and police. My fair projects for 4-H include photography where I was the 2022 & 2023 Weld County Fair Photography Grand Champion, and I was the 2022 State Fair Reserve Champion. Photography
allows me to look at the world from a different view and I like expressing what I see in photographs. Last year at the fair, I went outside my comfort zone and showed rabbits and chickens, which helps me with being a better livestock judge. I really enjoyed trying new things and it was a fun experience. In closing, being your 2023-2024 Weld County Fair Attendant, has allowed me to travel to different communities to meet new people and share all the wonderful information about Weld County. It has been so much fun telling everyone about how special the Weld County Fair is and how important agriculture is to all of us as Weld County is the largest Ag producer in Colorado.
Nikolai Krayna, Fair Duke
Hi there! My name is Nikolai Krayna and I am your 2023-2024 Weld County Fair Duke. I am super excited to have this opportunity as a key member in the Weld County Fair! Additionally, being a spokesperson for the Fair and traveling around the state is awesome! I am currently a Junior at Frederick High School, and an active participant in many extracurricular activities, in-
cluding Track and Field, 4-H and last but not least Royalty. I am serving as the President of my 4-H club this chapter year, and as an active member in my FFA chapter. These positions have lots of responsibilities, requirements and events that need to be tended to, and I would not be able to accomplish these without the help of my family. My mother Cherie Mayes, my father Jeremiah Krayna, and my grandparents Leon and Michelle Wiebers, are constantly helping me. After high school I plan on attending Aims Community College for the first two years of college, then transferring to CSU to major in Animal Science and minor in Agricultural Business. Being in 4-H has become a major part of my life and of who I am today, participating in several project categories, from standalone boards, to a welded white tail deer sculpture. The Weld County Fair has given me countless opportunities to learn.
